"Yes," said Mr. Goulden, "I knew that some days ago, and this is what I
have done. You have heard, no doubt, Mother Gredel, that great
workshops have been built for repairing arms. There is an arsenal at
Pfalzbourg, but they are in want of skilful workmen. Of course the
good laborers render as much service to the state in repairing arms as
those who go to battle; they have more to do, but they do not risk
their lives, and they remain at home. Well! I went at once to the
commandant of artillery, and asked him to accept Joseph as a workman.
It is nothing for a good clock-maker to repair a gun-lock, and Mr.
Montravel accepted him at once. Here is his order," said he, showing
us a paper which he took from his pocket.
I felt as if I had returned to life, and I exclaimed, "Oh! Mr.
Goulden, you are more than a father; you have saved my life."
Catherine, who had been overwhelmed with anxiety, got up and went out,
and Aunt Gredel kissed Mr. Goulden twice over, and said, "Yes, you are
the best of men, a man of sense and of a great spirit. If all Jacobins
were like you, women would wish only for Jacobins."
"But it was the most simple thing in the world to do!"
"No, no; it is your good heart which gives you good thoughts."
Words failed me in my joy and astonishment, and while aunt was speaking
I went out into the orchard to take the air. Catherine was there in a
corner of the bake-house, weeping hot tears.
"Ah! now I can breathe again," she said, "now I can live."
I embraced her with deep emotion. I saw what she had suffered during
the last month, but she was a brave woman, and had concealed her
anxiety from me, knowing that I had enough on my own account. We
stayed for ten minutes in the orchard to wipe away our tears, and then
went in. Mr. Goulden said:
"Well, Joseph! you go to-morrow; you must set off early, and you will
not lack work."
Oh! what joy to think I should not be compelled to go away, and then
too I had other reasons for wishing to remain at home, for Catherine
and I already had our hopes. Ah! those who have not suffered cannot
realize our feelings, nor understand what a weight this good news
lifted from our hearts. We stayed an hour longer at Quatre Vents, and
as the people were coming from vespers, at nightfall, we set off for
the town. Aunt Gredel went with us to where the post changes horses,
and at seven o'clock we were at home again.
It was thus that peace was established between Aunt Gredel and Mr.
Goulden, and now she came to see us as often as before. I went every
day to the arsenal and worked at repairing the guns. When the clock
struck twelve I went home to dinner, and at one returned to my work and
stayed until seven o'clock. I was at once soldier and workman, excused
from roll-call but overwhelmed with work. We hoped that I could remain
in that position till the war was over, if unfortunately it commenced
again, but we were sure of nothing.